Please note that all patients will be screened in accordance with Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines and must complete the COVID-19 Point of Care Patient Risk Assessment form prior to entering the clinic. If you screen positive, Regional Fertility Program will work with you to find acceptable alternate care strategies and mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others.  This may include:

1. converting to a virtual appointment,
2. rescheduling your appointment to a different day, or
3. rescheduling your appointment to a later time to allow for coordination of PPE needs and reduce contact and transmission to other at-risk or vulnerable patients in the clinic.

If you are feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or influenza-like illness symptoms, please call 403-284-5444 to inform us and discuss risk mitigation strategies.

*At this time, Regional Fertility Program continues to request that patients entering our facility maintain continuous masking in order to help protect each other and our vulnerable patient populations.

FAQ’s regarding Treatment During COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Vaccine (including an excerpt from the Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health televised COVID-19 update on Sept 9, 2021) are available to assist our patients in making informed decisions regarding your fertility treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Treatment During COVID-19
• COVID-19 Vaccine

• IVF and FET – In Vitro Fertilization and Frozen Embryo Transfer
• IUI – Intrauterine Insemination
• DSL – Diagnostic Semen Laboratory Online booking is available for semen analysis.
• Consultation and Follow-up – *Please Note: All new patient consultations are currently being seen in person at RFP. Follow-up care will continue to be provided virtually via telephone calls for the time being.

AHS facilities are currently limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, please expect delays for booking HSG (hysterosalpingogram) and hospital surgical procedures.

Treatment During COVID-19

What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The COVID-19 outbreak has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Symptoms of this infection can include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose, and/or a sudden change in a person’s ability to taste or smell. Such symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to the virus. The main source of transmission is through respiratory droplets from individuals who are infected with the virus (such as through coughing or sneezing) or through touching items that are contaminated with the virus and subsequently touching your face. However, it has also been shown that the virus can be spread to others from someone who is infected but not showing any symptoms of the illness.

How is a person tested for COVID-19?
Currently, the mainstay of testing is through a swab of the nasopharynx region where the virus resides. Testing criteria, interpretation and access are under the control of the provincial government and may vary from province to province. Tests can also return as false negatives, meaning that an infected individual may get negative test results, incorrectly indicating that the person does not have the disease.

Will COVID-19 affect my pregnancy?
Although data is limited, there is no evidence of direct negative effects of COVID-19 in pregnancy in terms of vertical transmission to the fetus in utero or subsequent birth defects. There is no definitive evidence that SARS-CoV-2 crosses the placenta and infects the fetus. An increase in congenital anomalies has not been reported. Reports of COVID-19 in the neonate have generally described mild disease. There also does not seem to be an increase in miscarriages associated with COVID-19.
Although pregnancy and childbirth generally do not increase the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2, pregnancy appears to worsen the clinical course of COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant individuals of the same age. More than 90% of infected pregnant persons recover without undergoing hospitalization or delivery. Risk factors associated with severe disease include:

• age >35 years,
• obesity,
• hypertension, and
• preexisting diabetes.

Pregnant women, especially those who develop pneumonia, appear to have increased frequency of preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation) and cesarean delivery, which is likely related to the severity of maternal illness.
The complete impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy, including both risks to mother and baby are still unknown. However, pregnant women are cautioned to be extra vigilant in protecting against contracting COVID-19 as high fevers can be associated with an increased risk of early delivery and complications during delivery. Fortunately, there are also reports of women who have tested positive for COVID-19 delivering babies free of the disease.
There are currently no medical recommendations from professional bodies and health authorities to avoid conceiving completely. We encourage you to make your own choice regarding your comfort in proceeding during the current environment. Pregnancy-related risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 have not been well-established. Limited evidence suggests that pregnancy-related risks are not high or substantially above the risk associated with other conditions or exposures that are fairly common among pregnant women, and pregnancy-related risks can be reasonably minimized or mitigated by standard prevention measures or by immunization.
If you are worried about potential concerns in pregnancy, you have the option of delaying the start of your treatment cycle (or freezing all of your embryos and postponing transfer) until the situation resolves.

Will RFP be taking enhanced precautions to ensure my safety during treatment?
RFP is committed to prioritizing the health and safety of all our patients and staff. We will be adhering strictly to recommendations from Alberta Health Services and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. Some of the steps we have already initiated include:

1. Enhanced cleaning procedures after every patient,
2. Modification to scheduling routines to maximize physical distancing,
3. Rigorous screening of all staff and patients presenting to the facility,
4. Adequate supply of personal protective equipment for both staff and patients, and
5. Limiting our visitor policy.

What will happen if I am unable to complete my treatment?
Should you need to cancel your treatment due to COVID-19 or for any reason, you will only be responsible for the cost of treatment up to that point. You will not be penalized for services that have not been rendered. A pro-rated cost for treatment completed to-date will be calculated and the balance will be refunded (subject to 2.5% processing fee) or kept in full as a future credit (no processing fee). You will not have a time limit to use up these credit funds. You will be responsible to purchase any additional medication to replace the used amounts.

If RFP’s ability to provide care is interrupted for unforeseen reasons, RFP will prioritize re-starting your treatment cycle as soon as we are able to do so safely. You will not be responsible for additional treatment fees to re-start the cycle as these will be covered by RFP. You will be responsible to purchase any additional medication to replace the used amounts.

What is the current recommendation from the Government of Canada National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy?

An Advisory Committee Statement (ACS) National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI): Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines

NACI recommends that a complete vaccine series with a COVID-19 vaccine (preferably with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine) may be offered to pregnant individuals in the authorized age group if a risk assessment deems that the benefits outweigh the potential risks for the individual and the fetus, and if informed consent includes discussion about the evidence on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in this population.

The evidence of pregnancy as an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 is evolving. Pregnant individuals were excluded from the mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.

Emerging research suggests that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination during pregnancy results in comparable antibody titres to those generated in non-pregnant women. Maternal IgG humoral response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines transfers across the placenta to the fetus, leading to a significant and potentially protective, antibody titre in the neonatal bloodstream.

Currently, there are limited data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccine from animal developmental and reproductive toxicity studies.

What is the current recommendation from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) regarding COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy?

SOGC Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy

Pregnant individuals should be offered vaccination at any time during pregnancy or while breastfeeding if no contraindications exist. The SOGC supports the use of all available COVID-19 vaccines approved in Canada in any trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding in accordance with regional eligibility. The decision to be vaccinated is based on the individual’s personal values, as well as an understanding that the risk of infection and/or morbidity from COVID-19 outweighs the theorized and undescribed risk of being vaccinated during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Individuals should not be precluded from vaccination based on pregnancy status or breastfeeding. Given that pregnant people are at increased risk of morbidity from COVID-19 infection, all pregnant persons should be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

What is the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society’s (CFAS) position regarding COVID-19 vaccination in individuals intending to conceive?

Fertility Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Guiding Principles for COVID-19 Vaccination in the Fertility Patient

The CFAS recommends that all individuals who are pregnant or those who intend to conceive should receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are not composed of live virus; therefore, they are not thought to cause an increased risk of infertility, first or second trimester loss, stillbirth, or congenital anomalies.

Preliminary data shows the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in umbilical cord blood of babies born to mothers who have received the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are present in human breast milk post-vaccination, suggesting that vaccination during pregnancy and the postpartum while breastfeeding can protect the fetus and newborn.

Every Albertan who can get vaccinated, should get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines help prevent you from getting infected and protect you from getting severely sick if you do get infected. All vaccines are safe, effective and save lives.

Individuals contemplating COVID-19 immunization in pregnancy can refer to this resource for further information: COVID-19 Immunization in Pregnancy: What you need to know

All Albertans 5 years or older can now get vaccinated. Vaccine appointments can be booked online or by calling 811: Alberta Health Services: COVID-19 Immunization Booking

Excerpt from Chief Medical Officer of Health COVID-19 update Sept 9, 2021:

Studies evaluating male and female fertility metrics after COVID-19 vaccines have not identified any harms to reproductive health, so COVID vaccine is also a good proactive step to take even before pregnancy.”

What information is available regarding individuals who elected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant?

Data from preliminary findings of mRNA Covid-19 vaccine safety in pregnant persons from three US vaccine safety monitoring systems is now available.

Can I take the influenza, chicken pox, Rubella (MMR) or other vaccines with the COVID-19 vaccine?

NACI states that currently, no data exists on the simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines should not be given simultaneously with other vaccines (live or inactivated).

You are advised to wait for a period of at least 28 days after each vaccine dose of an mRNA or viral vector COVID-19 vaccine before the administration of another vaccine, except in the case where another vaccine is required urgently for post-exposure prophylaxis.

You should wait at least 14 days after the administration of another vaccine before administrating a COVID-19 vaccine.

Time-sensitive interventions such as administration of anti-D immunoglobulin (eg. WinRho®, RhoGAM®) and blood products should not be delayed on account of recent COVID-19 vaccination and could be given simultaneously.